Observations from a far place.

jay helfert said:
To answer a few questions. A good price for RT from the USA to Manila is around $900. How do the young players get so good? They are in action daily number one. And they get to watch the best money players on the planet every night. Ronnie, Warren, Alex and Francisco were on One Side last night. PLAYING, not watching. The room was FULL of players, and smelled of money and action. I love this room, so old school. All about action and making games and matching up. Bartram would love it here.

One Side is my favorite room here. Small with only eight tables, packed to the gills every night. When a table opens up it is a mad dash to make a game and grab it.

The tourney is winding down, final four play tomorrow. Single elim. from there for the last three matches. Double elim. up till then. I really like the refs on every table. Good ones too for the most part. All are filipino pool players who have ref'd many money matches at One Side. The tables are Brunswick Metro knock off's. Something was lost in the translation though. I think it's cheap slate. They don't play like the original Metros and the pockets are nearly four and three quarters. Too forgiving for these top players.

Still a good tourney. Ted Lerner and a fellow named Jonas from Europe are doing commentary. Both good IMO. Naturally good coverage every day. Two full matches daily on live TV, three tomorrow.

About my girl Bunny. A few of you know it is more about her that I come now. She is due in three weeks. I was totally surprised because I thought I was done with all that fatherhood stuff. But one lucky guy got though. :)

A daddy again after all these years. Her name will be Jalo. We made it up.
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Wow JAY!! Unreal NEWS congratulations buddy! Mine is three and a half months old and I couldn't be happier.
 
Congratulations Jay!! Big news!!!!! Being a dad is the most important job we have to perform in a lifetime.
 
Just watched Lu Hui-Chan dismantle Corey Deuel 9-4 to reach the semis tomorrow. Corey had beaten a game Marcus Chamat to reach this stage (top six). He was no match for Lu, who is the third ranked player in Chinese Taipei. Lu is fast, efficient, effortless and deadly accurate. I saw no flaws in his game. Right now, he's my pick to win this one. At 1-1 Corey broke empty and Lu ran a four pack from there. That basically sealed the deal.

Watching up close over here, I marvel at the pool machines in Taipei and Manila that keep churning out monster players. Only a handful of foreigners can match up with these guys. I also like the rule used over here, "foul on all balls". It cuts out all the nonsense when an object ball is moved. You move a ball, you've fouled. Pretty simple. Same rule was used in the Predator Ten Ball. I'd like to see it used in all the American events. About time.
 
jay helfert said:
Just watched Lu Hui-Chan dismantle Corey Deuel 9-4 to reach the semis tomorrow. Corey had beaten a game Marcus Chamat to reach this stage (top six). He was no match for Lu, who is the third ranked player in Chinese Taipei. Lu is fast, efficient, effortless and deadly accurate. I saw no flaws in his game. Right now, he's my pick to win this one. At 1-1 Corey broke empty and Lu ran a four pack from there. That basically sealed the deal.

Watching up close over here, I marvel at the pool machines in Taipei and Manila that keep churning out monster players. Only a handful of foreigners can match up with these guys. I also like the rule used over here, "foul on all balls". It cuts out all the nonsense when an object ball is moved. You move a ball, you've fouled. Pretty simple. Same rule was used in the Predator Ten Ball. I'd like to see it used in all the American events. About time.
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all ball fouls i dont like its not good for short chubby guys.
lets play call your pocket im tired of the slop rules.
 
jay helfert said:
Just watched Lu Hui-Chan dismantle Corey Deuel 9-4 to reach the semis tomorrow. Corey had beaten a game Marcus Chamat to reach this stage (top six). He was no match for Lu, who is the third ranked player in Chinese Taipei. Lu is fast, efficient, effortless and deadly accurate. I saw no flaws in his game. Right now, he's my pick to win this one. At 1-1 Corey broke empty and Lu ran a four pack from there. That basically sealed the deal.

Watching up close over here, I marvel at the pool machines in Taipei and Manila that keep churning out monster players. Only a handful of foreigners can match up with these guys. I also like the rule used over here, "foul on all balls". It cuts out all the nonsense when an object ball is moved. You move a ball, you've fouled. Pretty simple. Same rule was used in the Predator Ten Ball. I'd like to see it used in all the American events. About time.
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How do you rate Pulpul's game, Jay? He dismantled Lu Hui Chan earlier by a score of 9 to 1 !!!! I have never seen him in action though so can you tell me if his playing style is similar to the other top pinoys?
 
Great book BTW, I had lots of fun reading it! Congratulations on the new bundle of joy! I agree, foul on all balls is a must. Thanks for the update on what's up in Manila! Great hearing it first hand rather than seeing it in the articles months later! That closer personal touch makes it so much more enjoyable, just like your book!
 
real bartram said:
all ball fouls i dont like its not good for short chubby guys.
lets play call your pocket im tired of the slop rules.
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The game they are playing is 10-Ball. You must call a ball to which pocket. If that ball doesn't go in, you loss ur turn.

Jay... Thanx for the update.
 
More tourney notes - You must call ONE ball and only one ball. I don't like this rule, it cuts out two way shots that are so much a part of good play. Also, present Ten Ball rules don't allow the ten on the break. I have been to two big events in the last three weeks and I just don't see many ten balls on the break. Very few in fact. It isn't so easy to make, I think harder than in 9-Ball. I think the old 9-Ball rules would be best for this game. If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

Went back to One Side last night. The whole crew was there, all in action naturally. SVB was playing Carlos Blado a rising money game star over here. Race to 18 for 30,000p, about $630. Carlos won 18-16. Shane unscrewed. Dennis was playing Ronnie, Race to 15 for 25,000. Dennis wins that one 15-12. Warren got into action with Kuo Po Cheng from Taipei, Francisco was playing Uchigaki from Japan and Efren squared off in a Straight Pool match with a European player. Effie ran 61 off the break.

I could feel the disappointment when talking with Francsico about the Philippine Open. He and Efren and Parica put the Philippines on the map in world pool and to be excluded in a local tournamernt is painful for them. Efren is to classy to say anything but I can feel his hurt too. Francisco only tells me because he knows I am his friend. I feel bad for them. Two LEGENDS left out. This MUST be fixed!
 
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f210 said:
How do you rate Pulpul's game, Jay? He dismantled Lu Hui Chan earlier by a score of 9 to 1 !!!! I have never seen him in action though so can you tell me if his playing style is similar to the other top pinoys?
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Pupul has a huge break! He was making two and three balls every game. I expect them to square off again in the final (if he can get by De Luna). Can Pulpul do it again? I'm betting the other way.

My friend Bob made this comment to me last night. "The filipino Junior Varsity is doing well in this tourney." I love that quote "Jr. Varsity". The first string is at One Side. One side of the board was loaded with filipinos, 18 in all out of 64 players. No surprise that two got through and one will be in the Finals. Lu is a first string player all the way!
 
real bartram said:
all ball fouls i dont like its not good for short chubby guys.
lets play call your pocket im tired of the slop rules.
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Chris, there are many players over here much shorter than you. They don't seem to have any problems. No one stretches better than a filipino. They have elastic bodies.
 
One9marine, you have my sympathy. The Iwo would make you seasick tied up at the dock. Single-screw piece of crap.
I did go through typhoons once on the Estes (or maybe the Eldorado) and once on the Valley Forge. Not fun.
 
jay helfert said:
..
I could feel the disappointment when talking with Francsico about the Philippine Open. He and Efren and Parica put the Philippines on the map in world pool and to be excluded in a local tournamernt is painful for them. Efren is to classy to say anything but I can feel his hurt too. Francisco only tells me because he knows I am his friend. I feel bad for them. Two LEGENDS left out. This MUST be fixed!
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Jay, I dont think you are very accurate here. Efren, Django and the other stars in PI are not left out, if they wanted to they could jump over the fence anytime and play this tournament. Noone will stop them. Just like Manalo and Gabica did - jumping back and forth.

Makabenta would welcome them with open arms and dollar signs in his eyes if they came to him, but they CHOSE not to play in any of his tournament because they believe the way his organisation in being run is WRONG.

Efren and the rest WILL NOT PLAY in any of these tournaments until Yen Makabenta has resigned. That is the story Jay, they are not "left out".
 
Jay...just want to thank you for the reports. Your writing skills are appreciated!
 
I just sweated out both semis. Two marathons that ended 9-7. In the first one, it was all about the break or Lu's lack of it. He scratched three times on the break and Yang ran out each time for a six game swing. The middle of the match was full of sloppy play on both sides. At 8-7 down Lu finally breaks from the middle of the table, just to keep the cue ball in play. He comes up empty and Yang plays a nice safe. Lu escapes but leaves a thin cut on the one ball. Yang makes it and follows with a good run out to win 9-7.

Match two is another close one with De Luna grabbing an early lead and keeping it. There are many good run outs by both players. At 6-5 De Luna, he is running out and misses the eight. Hold on, it went in anyway. The very next game Pul Pul misses the five but it slops in. Thank you soft pockets. Neither of these shots would have gone in on a Diamond. At 7-6 De Luna, he is running out and misses an easy seven ball down the rail. Plong Plong (Pulpul's nickname) ties it up 7-7. The next game Plonger is running out and also misses an easy seven ball to return the favor. 8-7 De Luna. In the final game, De Luna makes a ball on the break and plays a good safe. Plongo shoots directly at the one ball but the two ball gets in the way. Bad hit. Jeff makes another nice run out to win the match.

Both are lonnng matches, two and half hours or more and the final is a Race To Eleven. It should be even longer with all the television breaks. Bring your pillows! The two players are evenly matched. I'm thinking it will come down to who makes the fewest mistakes. Somehow it just doesn't have the appeal of a Souquet-Orcollo final or Souquet anybody for that matter. Bob's words about the Jr. Varsity are ringing in my ears.
 
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jay helfert said:
I Somehow it just doesn't have the appeal of a Souquet-Orcollo final or Souquet anybody for that matter. Bob's words about the Jr. Varsity are ringing in my ears.
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I feel the EXACT same way. All these guys can play. NONE of them have the quality of Efren, Archer, Souquet, Bustamante, Orcullo, etc....

Apparently the Phillipines isn't quite so pool crazy as channel 23 just stopped broadcasting the finals to show cartoons or something.

I am left wondering if Kevin Trudeau wasn't right after all - in that you can just put up anyone on tv and call them a pro and the public will believe it.

Obviously Makabenta is getting PAID regardless of WHO is shown on TV.

I will tell you what - When I was in the Phillipines for the WC two years ago and Bustamante was on TV I was out and about with some friends and EVERY tv I saw was tuned to the match.

I'd bet that this is NOT the case RIGHT NOW.

I bet if it was Efren in the finals then Channel 23 wouldn't have cut the broadcast short.

I just can't understand WHY that the BMPAP can't put on their own events???? You have the players so why can't you go to sponsors and tv and get it done????

Compete DAMMIT and drive Makabenta and Chua out of business.

Don't let Edwin's death be in vain.
 
pooladdict said:
Jay, I dont think you are very accurate here. Efren, Django and the other stars in PI are not left out, if they wanted to they could jump over the fence anytime and play this tournament. Noone will stop them. Just like Manalo and Gabica did - jumping back and forth.

Makabenta would welcome them with open arms and dollar signs in his eyes if they came to him, but they CHOSE not to play in any of his tournament because they believe the way his organisation in being run is WRONG.

Efren and the rest WILL NOT PLAY in any of these tournaments until Yen Makabenta has resigned. That is the story Jay, they are not "left out".
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I only relayed Francisco's disappointment in not being able to play, not the reasons behind it. I don't quite understand the pool politics over here and don't want to get involved. I have had my own share of disappointment for speaking out regarding past improprieties involving the World Ten Ball last year. By taking a stand regarding late payments to players, I have been X'd out of doing TV commentary for this event. After watching several shows, I'm confident I could have brought another level of commentary to the shows. That's how things go over here. If you don't play ball, and offer any sort of criticism, you get kicked off the team. So be it!

My personal situation is minor compared that that of Efren and company. Regardless of the where's and whys, I think it is a shame that the Philippines living pool legends are not playing in major pool events on their home soil. It is true these players are my long time friends so I have an allegiance to them. I don't know if I can be totally objective here. My opinion remains that it makes any tournament without them a minor league event. The filipino pool fans know who's who and also wonder where their heros are.
 
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